Altronic, Inc.

Hoerbiger Kompressortechnik Holding Gmbh

Prometheus Applied Technologies, LLC

Hoerbiger Wien Gmbh

The Economy Engine Company

Joseph M Lepley

Steven B Pirko

David Thomas Lepley

Gary A Kleinfelder

Richard D Yohman

Luigi P Tozzi

Bruce R Beeghly

Maria Emmanuella Sotiropoulou

Gerhard Ranegger

Thomas C Wick

Arno Gschirr

Peter Steinrueck

David Lepley

A circuit for controlling current flow to an associated inductive load is provided. The circuit includes a switching element having an open state and a closed state that intermittently connects an associated power supply to the inductive load when the switching element is in the closed state, a switch driver that generates a switch drive signal provided to a control element of the switch that controls the state of the switch to be the open state or the close state based on a desired load current set point and a feedback signal, a current sensor that measures a current flowing through the switching element and the load and generates a sensed current signal, and a summing circuit that adds a representation of the sensed current signal and a supplemental signal comprising a representation of the switch drive signal to generate the feedback signal.

Analog control loop with digital feedback

In certain embodiments, a time-varying spark current ignition system can be applied to improve spark plug ignitability performance and durability as compared to conventional spark ignition systems. Two performance parameters of interest are spark plug life (durability) and spark plug ignitability. In certain embodiments, spark plug life can be extended by applying a spark current amplitude as low as possible without causing quenching of the flame kernel while it is traveling within an electrode gap and/or by applying spark current of a long enough duration to allow the spark/flame kernel to clear a spark plug gap. In certain embodiments, ignitability can be improved by applying a high enough spark current amplitude to sustain the flame kernel once outside the spark plug gap and/or by applying a spark current for long enough to sustain the flame kernel once outside the spark plug gap.

Time-varying spark current magnitude to improve spark plug performance and durability

In order to reduce AC ringing of the secondary voltage after the spark event in a capacitive ignition system, which would influence ion-sensing, a secondary winding current (I) flowing through the secondary winding () after the spark event is forced to flow through a forward-biased muting diode (D) that is connected across the secondary winding ().

Capacitive ignition system with ion-sensing and suppression of AC ringing

A gaseous fuel control system for a dual-fuel internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of valves for controlling the amount of gaseous fuel supplied to the engine. The valves have adjustable full-open flow rates and rapidly move from full-open to full-closed in response to a digital signal. An electronic system for monitoring at least one engine operating parameter maps the parameter value to control the opening and closing of the valves to establish a desired gaseous fuel flow rate.

Digital control of gaseous fuel substitution rate for dual-fuel engines

A method of ion sensing in a CD ignition system for an internal combustion engine comprises: a) closing the controllable switch in synchronism with the internal combustion engine for a period of time to transfer energy to the ignition coil primary to cause a spark breakdown across the spark plug; and b) observing the current in the secondary winding circuit indicative of ionization in the vicinity of the spark plug electrodes.

Ion sensing method for capacitive discharge ignition

A system comprising an amplifier for amplifying signals of frequencies less than one kilohertz generated by a vibration sensor and using the amplified signal to amplitude modulate a carrier signal at a frequency in excess of one kilohertz and applying the amplitude modulated carrier signal to a sensor interface circuit.

Vibration monitor

A capacitive discharge ignition system for an internal combustion engine and for use with a generator powered current source comprises a storage capacitor, at least one power thyristor for discharging the storage capacitor to transfer energy to at least one coil triggered in synchronism with an internal combustion engine with which the ignition system may be associated. A triggering circuit biases the power thyristor to discharge the storage capacitor. A shut-off circuit comprises a solid state device for switching the output of the generator to ground interrupting the flow of current to the power thyristor. A circuit sensing current flow in the triggering circuit generates a control and gates the solid state device into conduction in response to the control signal.

Silicon-controlled rectifier shut-off circuit for capacitive discharge ignition system

A capacitive discharge ignition system in which a controllable switch is positioned between a storage capacitor and the primary winding of an ignition transformer. The switch is controlled to create a train of pulses to the primary winding timed to reinforce the ringing action of the ignition transformer.

High tension capacitive discharge ignition with reinforcing triggering pulses

An in-head compressed air start-up system for an internal combustion engine comprises an absolute angular position detector for the crankshaft outputting an electrical signal indicative of the angular position, a computer for storing a table of the firing order of the cylinders and the angular position of the crankshaft at which each piston reaches a desired angular position relative to top dead center (TDC), wherein the computer means compares the signal indicative of angular position of the crankshaft to the firing order table and generates a plurality of signals sequentially open and close solenoid valves to cause rotation of the crankshaft.

Air starter and electronic control therefor

An annunciator comprises an annunciation and shutdown circuit having input terminals for a first power supply and input terminals for a second power supply. The first and second power supplies are connected to supply power in parallel with each other to the annunciation and shutdown circuit. A logic means responds to a fault signal causing the annunciation and shutdown circuit to switch to low power mode upon sensing that a fault signal has occurred.

Annunciator

A capacitive discharge ignition system for an internal combustion engine comprises a converter transformer, an ignition transformer, a first triggerable switch S , the primary winding of the ignition transformer and the storage capacitor being connected in series through the triggerable switch, a spark plug connected in series with the secondary winding of the ignition transformer, a source of direct current and a second triggerable switch S connected in series the primary of the converter transformer, and a circuit to control the first and second triggerable switches in synchronism with the engine.

Capacitive discharge ignition system with extended duration spark

A spark plug for an internal combustion engine comprises a tubular metal ground shell, a first electrode passing through the interior of the shell, a ceramic insulator sealing the space between the shell and the first electrode and a second electrode extending from the shell to define a gap with the first electrode. The ratio of effective distance along the surface of the ceramic defining the potential surface discharge path to the distance between the first and second electrodes being selected to prevent surface discharge as the spark gap erodes.

Spark plug with specific construction to avoid unwanted surface discharge

In a capacitive discharge ignition system there being a first circuit detecting the voltage across the storage capacitor marking the onset of discharge of the storage capacitor, a second circuit detecting the voltage across the storage capacitor marking the substantially complete discharge of the storage capacitor, a third circuit for measuring the time between the events marked by the first and second circuits, and a fourth circuit for analyzing the measured time to determine conditions in the ignition system.

Diagnostic system for capacitive discharge ignition system

A digital tachometer for an internal combustion engine includes a circuit for receiving a pick-up pulse having a frequency related to the rotation speed of the engine and outputting a wave shaped pick-up pulse. This circuit filters the pick-up pulses and regulates the filtered voltage to provide a d.c. output for powering the tachometer. A crystal controlled oscillator and divider provides update pulses at intervals of 1 to 10 seconds and provides sampling pulses at frequencies of 1 to 5 kilohertz. A display counter and driver counts speed pulses indicative of speed between update pulses and latches the count until the next update pulse. A numerical display displays the count currently latched in the display counter. A multiplier/divider recieves the pick-up pulses and divides them by the number of pulses per revolution to provide pulses indicative of the engine rotational speed. It also multiplies the pulses in a sampling phase locked loop by a factor corresponding to the period between update pulses to provide speed pulses to the display counter. The sampling phase locked loop is strobed by the sampling pulses produced by the crystal controlled oscillator. The multiplier/divider provides a d.c. output reference voltage indicative of speed in addition to the speed pulses.

Digital tachometer

A capacitive discharge ignition system for an internal combustion engine and for use with a generator powered current source comprises a storage capacitor, at least one thyristor for discharging the storage capacitor to transfer energy to at least one spark plug and a trigger circuit for gating the at least one thyristor in synchronism with an internal combustion engine with which the ignition system may be associated. The improvement according to this disclosure comprises the storage capacitor is discharged through a diode circuit, a solid state device for switching the output of the generator to ground, a circuit sensing flow in the discharge diode circuit and generating a discharge signal indicative thereof, and a circuit gating the solid state device into conduction in response to said discharge signal.

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Girard, OH, United States of America

Joseph M Lepley